Liquid-dispensing apparatus



jam M 9 1927n 1,613,711

- G. W. MaCKENZIE LIQUID DISPENSING APPARATUSy Filed Jan. 20. 1923 4 Sheets-Sheet l W/TNESSES Jan. 11 1927.

G. W. MaCKENZIE LIQUID DISPENSING APPARATUS Filed Jam.V 20

4 Sheets-Shet 2 ooooo WITNESSES LIQUID DI SPENS ING APPARATUS VV/ TNESSES F l E. ym

M613 7M Jan., s G' W MacKENZlE 9 LIQUID DISPENSING APlfARATUS Filed Jan. 20, 1923v 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 FIE.IX

"QIIII/Ilmlllll/gefzi Patented dan.. l1, 1927.

UNirl-:o STATES PATENT LIQUID-DISPENSING, APPARATUS.

Application led January My invention relates to improvements in gasoline-dispensing apparatus. In Letters Patent of the United States now granted me, No. 1,536,402, granted May 5, 1925, and

No. 1,568,518, granted January 5, 1926, I have described and claimed apparatus of the nature indicated, including a fixture.

adapted' to be set by the curbstone of' a roadway or at other suitable place.

1o y My presentminvcntion concerns such a fixture. The fixture having been set in place, .as forexample by the curbstone of' a street, connection is made to a supply tank, and suction apparatus is provided. By the swinging ot' an operating handle, gasoline (or other liquid) may be. drawn by suction from the supply `tank into the fixture 'and having been drawn may be delivered again from the fixture by gravity in measured quantities to customers. My present invention consists in the provision of an additional` structural feature, applicable to a fixture having the characteristics indicated, and adapting it to wider service.

The fixture of my present invention, like the fixtures otl my now granted patents alluded to, includes glass-walledmeasuring chambers,-a 'very desirable feature. But fixtures having glass-walled measuring chambers must, in many States, meet thel legal requirement, that their measuring chambers may not, after service, be allowed to stand Vfilled with gasoline.

It is not infrequently desirable to install a new fixture in place of' an 4old one, and that without otherwise disturbing the original installation. Fixtures of certain types require that a non-return valve, commonly called a foot-valve, be present in .the line of communication between supply tank and dispensing fixture. ,The supply tank may be remotely situated, and both it and the footvalve, when present, may be underground. Y

The fixture of my present invention, possessing the supplementary structural feature to which lI`have made allusion, is applicable in replacement of another fixture, and,even though the installation include a foot-valve, it is. not necessary to remove that valve (thus expensive excavation is avoided), and, even though Vthe foot-valve be present, still it is possible to empty the glass-walled measuring chambers and keep them empty after service, and so to comply with such legal 20, 1923. Serial No. 613,875.

requirements Aof the nature indicated as may be in force. l

Inv the accompanying drawings Fig. I is a view in elevation of the entire fixture, embodying my present invention; Fig. II isa view to larger scale and in vertical section of the lower part of the fixture; Fig. III is a similar showing of the upper part 'of the fixture; Fig. IV\is a fragmentary view in vertical section, and on a plane at right 'angles to that of Fig. III, showing the medial part of the fixture; Fig. V is a view in plan from beneath of a detail of structure; Fig. VI is a view'in vertical section illustrating another detail; Fig. VII is a view in medial and vertical section of that detail which is shown in Fig. V; Fig. VIII is a view in det-ail, illustrating the inter-engagement of certain parts; Fig. IX is a view corresponding toFigII, and illustratinga modification.

The fixture is 'adapted to stand at the curbstone of a roadwayor othersuitable place. It consists of a standard 1, carrying .glass-walled measuring chambers 2-in this 80 .case two in number. The number is imma-. terial. The standard is further provided, at a' lower level than the measuring chambers, with an opening 3, through which a delivery hose may alternately be extended and retired. A gasoline supply pipe 4 from I a supply tank divides into branches 5 and 6 and leads to the two measuring chambers, 2, 2, and enters the measuring chambers at the bottom (Fig. III). In this gasoline 9o supply pipe 4 a non-return valve, commonly called a foot valve, maybe placed. This is indicated at 9, Fig. IX.

From the measuring chambers 2, lat the top, suction pipes 7 lead; these extend to a. 95 valve chest 41. -Valves 8 control ports opening from the measuring chambers at the bottom to a delivery chamber 80, and from Y this delivery chamber there is escape by gravity through an orifice 81, to which 10o a delivery hose may be connected. As has been said, such delivery hose may be extended and retired through the opening 3 in the pedestal. l Y

Comparing Figs. III, V, and VII, it will be perceived that 'the pedestal 26 which forms the base 'of the measuring `chamber' is itself chambered; that in the underside of this pedestal is formed a shallow circular recess 32 of relatively large diameter, into 11 which the supply pipe 5 (6? leads and from which the va ve-controlle discharge ,port opens; that upward extending bores 315 which do not penetrate through the pedestal, are aligned above the inlet and discharge ports; and that bores 33 and 34 which do penetrate are provided, to allowv the gasoline tical partition into right and left chambers.

The upper chamber communicates through a pipe 40 with suitable suction apparatus; the lower chamber .communicates through a vent 17 with the-open air, while the two medial chambers communicatethrough pipes 7 with the measuring chambers. f In the horizontalv partitions mentioned, within the valve chest 4,1, are .pairs of ports, the 'two ports in the upper partition standing appo- 'lsite the two `ports in the lower partition,

and double valves 46 are arranged to Amove vertically each-to vclose alternately one or the' other of these op osite ports, while leaving the other o prings are provided which tend toho d these valves to their seats in the upper partition, Athe position `in which suction is cut olf and the measuring chaml ber is ventedto the air.

A beam 58 is carried o'n a rotatable shaft' v v56 and extends normally in the horizttal position shown 'in Fig. III. Tlie shaft manually rotated at the willlof vthe operatorthrongh a' 'fraction of a turn, irst in 'one di.-`

. l'e'ctionnnd then in the other, by meansof a crankv 11 vextending from the shaft (cf.

Figs. I and IV). The beam in its swing engageson .one side the' stem of valve 8 vand opens valve 8 against -sprin tension, 'on""the `,other sideit engages a'iiexi le band 59,"and

by engagement v d epxesses it and shifts 'the valve 46, with; the stem .o f which the. band 'makes engagement.- By the swinging of the crank armv 11, eu-ordinated shift-in of ltheA valve 46911 one side,- and of the-va ve ,8 on" the'otheris eEeeted,-to the end that,` as the crank arm 115s :swungfone way or theothen. one of two measuingchambers, closed to the air, is brought into communication with the suction apparatus, while the cox'npanionv char valve 8' sunseated. .f While ,gasoline` is being". sucked through'thepipe 4- into one-be apparatus after standing idle is about to be of the measuringv `chambers 2,.,the other chamber, vented tothe air,"is` delivering by. gravityjts previously",l and segregated unit of volume, Vthroughchamh'g'r 80jy to orifice 81 and the' connecting delivery -in neutral position.

inifective positions.

"the edge. o

hose to the cu tomer. When the controlling lever 11 is in intermediate or neutral position, both measuring chambers are vented above to the air,.while the delivery orifices in the chamber bottoms are both closed by the spring-seated valves 8 provided therefor.

In each of the branches 5 and 6 of the. supply pipe a valve chest 61 is introduced.

This valve chest is shown in vertical section and on large scale in Fig. VI.y Within this chest is avalve 62 which, when free of'assoc'iated instrulnentalities about to be described, acts as a downwardly seatingcheck valve. Through the .valve chest and .journalled in its walls extends a rotatable shaft 63. Externally, .this shaft carries a Weighted bell-crank lever 64; internally, it vcarries a crank arm 65, adapted, as the shaft turns, to engage the stem of valve 62, and through such engagement to unseat the valve (as the shaftcturns clockwise,lFig. VI). Shaft turning is limited in4 one direction. by a shoulder 66,upon which an armfroin the shaft abuts, and in opposite directionby a stopl 67, against which the 'rising valve abuts. Normally, the weighted lever holds the valve unseated and in abutment upon stop 67. 'f' l Within pedestal l a lever 68 is pivoted `(Fig. IV), and this leveris, linked to the two weighted bell-crank levers '64. The parts as they are shown in Fig. IV are prolonged ytransverselyin .the form 'of a 'plate 69' (of: Figs. IV and VIII). Crank 1'1 isprovided with adownwardly extending pilf. 70gwhchthroughout the range of swing of the crank is engaged by the adja- -cent vertical rim of this plate 69. lThe en- In that position thev VWeighted bell-crank levers 64 are effective `to hold the valves 62 in raised Jand .ineffec tive position. The upper end of lever 68 extends adjacent to crank 11 and it is there gaging rim of plate 69 is so shaped, that in 'all positions yof the. crank but neutral, the

crank holds lever 68 swun aside (counter- 'cl0ckwise, Fig. IV), andw en the parts are.

in this iposition, the valves 62 are free to act as chec valves, but when the' crank 11 is in vneutral position, the weighted .bell-crank levers 64 are allowed to turn under gravity andtoshift the valves 62-to their open and The shape of this plte 69 is shown in plan view in Fig."\ III,

.and funn-v this figure it willbe apparent how; when in 70 is opposite the notch'in .fp plate 69, as is the case when the crank 11 is standing in neutralposition, l

lever 68-can swing `(clockwise, Fig. IV), in res onse to gravity acting upon weighted licrank levers 64. When, however, the

brought. into' service again, and when the lever 68 hasvbeen manually swung counterclockwise (Fig. IV) and then crank 11 has lac chamber' 12.

Cil

been turned from neutral position, engagement of the/rim of plate 69 with pin 70 will hold the bell-crank levers 64 raised' against gravity. And, as has been explained, so long as the bell-crank levers 64 are so raised, valves 62 are -frce to act as check valves.

`lrVhen the apparatus is about to be used, the attendant, before he swings crank 11, first draws outwardly the upper end of lever G8. That is tf) say, he turns lever 68 counter-clockwise as seen in Fig. IV, and in so doing he turns bell-crank levers 64 against gravity, until their Afurther turning is checked by abutment upon shoulders 66. Then, while still holding the end of lever 68, the attendant swings the crank 11 from its neutral position. He may then release his hold upon the Alever 68 .and thc weighted levers 64 will then'continue to be sustained in their retracted positions (allowing check valves 62 to function), until' the crank 11 comes to neutral position again. lVhen the apparatus is to be put out of use, 4as when the station is to be closed, the attendant swings crank 11 back to neutral, and thereupon pin comes opposite the notchv in plate 69, and the weight-ed bell-crank levers 64 throw both valves 62 to open and inactive position. I

As particularly shown in Fig. IV, it is convenient to form the crank arm 11 with a removable extension 71. This extension' 71 will, whenthe fixture is to be left idle1 be removed. This is a convenient matter of precaution, to guard against vmischievous tampering with the apparatus.

I provide and mount within the standard so that it stands beneath the level of the bottom of' the measuring chamber 2, a storage I make bottom communication from this storage chamber 12 through a conduit 13 with supply pipe 4, and I make top connection from this chamber 12 with the open air, but this at a sufficiently ele! vated point. In' the fixture as here minutely illustrated, 'the measuring chambers 2 are carried on a platform 14 and these measuring chambers are over-hung by a protecting canopy or hood 15. Beneath the hood the valve chest 41 is carried on a hollow post 16, and through this hollow post the prolonged stems of valves 46 'conveniently extend. The post itself is ported to the atmosphere as indicated at' 17. I conveniently vent the auxiliary' chamber 12. by means 'of va leafd 18 through this post 16.

Associated with the storage chamber 12 I provide afloat-controlled downwardly-closing valve 19 (191) having this particular characteristic` that when the chamber 12 previously filled is being emptied by suction into one of the measuring chambers, this valve will, as emptying is complete-d, close. When the valve is closed the line of suction is cut off.. The valve once closed will remain closed until the gasoline, descending by gravity from one of themeasuring chambers, rises again in chamber 12.

As shown in Fig. II, the valve 19 is arranged above, at the point where chamber 12 opens into duct 18. The float 20 is secured to the stem of the valve. As shown in Fig. IX, valve 19a is arranged below, at the point where pipe lead 13 opens into Vchamber 12. The float 2Oa is secured to the valve stem as in the other case. It will be observed that the structure is such that the fio-atislimited in its range of rise and fall, and that as the ti-de of gasoline rises within the chamber 12, the float necessarily is submerged. 'Ihe material of which the float is formed will be such as to endure the conditions of service. Conveniently it may be of' cork covered or-treated in such manner as to render it impenetrable to gasoline.

In the operation of'th'e apparatus as a whole` as crank arm 11 is swung fromone to the other of its extreme positions right and left (Figs. I and III), first one measuring chamber and then the other is by suction filled with gasoline drawn primarily from the supply /tank through pipe 4 and one or the other ofits' branches 5 and 6. lVhen one measuring chamber is so being filled, the other is= emptying by gravity through the port in the chamber bottom which is vcontrolled by valve-8. into chamber 80, and thence through the delivery hose. lVhen, sequent upon such swinging. crank arm 11 is returned to and allowed to remain in its neutral position, suction ceases.l Both measuring chambers are then in the condition .of being vented to the atmosphere, but closed against delivery. lVhen the crank arm 11 has so been returned to neutral position and allowed to remain there, lever 68 being unrestrained, the weighted bell-crank levers 64 will swing, the lever 68 will be brought to the relative position indicated in Fig. VIII, the two valves' 62 in the two lines 5 and 6 will be lifted from theirl seats `and rendered ineffective. The charge of gasoline which on the last preceding swing of the crank arm 11 had been `drawninto one of the measuring chambers will now return by gravity through its branch 5 (6) of the supply pipe. In case the Ainstallation includes a non-return or foot valve 9 (Fig. IX), the so returning charge of gasoline will have free access to the'storage chamber 12 and will find temporary accommodation there, leaving the glass-walled measuring chamber empty, as law may require.

When in the further course of operation, the storage chamber 12 being full, the attendant swings lever 68 and crank arm 11, va condition of suctionis established in one -of the measuring chambers. This suction is effective, first, to draw from the storage chamber 12 the of liquidwhich it con-v tains. It ,is eective to thls end because the chamber 12- is vented to theair. As the vchamber '12 isv by Suction being emptied into one 'of the measuring chambers, the valve 19 will, as emptying -is completed, close.

' vl/Vhen valve l-)gcloses the line of suction is cut oli' und furthersuction will then be ciective to draw gasoline from the source of supply .through pipe 4. The valve 19 so closed will remain closed until gasoline, descending by gravity :"rom one of the measrm ing chambers, rises again in chamber 12.

` Chamber ,12 will have capacity sufiicient to in -chamber into chamber 12 may be re-i fi of this storage chamber, positioned and functioning as I have described, my fixture becomes applicablev universally, and may, without otherwise disturbing the installation, replace other fixtures, even though in such previously established installations, the supvply tank with its ldelivery pipe be provided with a"f0otvalve, that is to say, anonreturn valve.

The storage chamber 12 with its tloat valve i f and its vent pipe are removable, and so my fixture is adaptableto suchV particular con' ditionsas may exist; if the fixture is to be installed in association with a supplytank p/ovided with a foot-valve, the storage chamr will be employed; if '119 such check'valve be .present in'the installation the storage' chamber-may be removed and the connec tions cnpped.- 1

Tell-tale-,bell's 21 may be` provided, associated vwith the receiving chambers, and

bells'yma'y be struck with blappers 22 swung byvoatmlsothat the bell g'wil ring as the chamber necting said lstorage tank with said supply I have throughout characterized the apparatus which I have been describing as gasoline-dispensing apparatus., Mnifestly it is accidental that the apparatus comes to be practically usefui in the dispensing of gasoline; manifestly it is useful in the dispensing 'of liquid generally, and my patent will be y construed accordingly.

claim as my invention: i f

1. In combination, a liquid receiving chamber vented tothe air, a container located above said chamber, aconduit connecting the bottoms of thechamber and of the container, a. float valve. arranged in said chamber, a downwardly closing check valve in the said conduit, means for throwing the said check .valve out of service at will, leaving the conduit open at that point, means for connecting a non-return source of supply to said' congint intermediate Vsaid valve and said chamer. i 2. In liquid-'dispensing apparatus the combination of an .elevated measuring chamber,

chamber at level thereof, a foot valve in said'ifpply pipe, a storage tank arfv ranged between .the level of the foot valve in p the supply pipe and the level of the floor of' the measurlngchamber, abranch pipe con'- pipe, a check lvalve arrangedin said supplyI pipe at a point intermediate thepoint of connection of thel branch pipe and the point of openin `to the measuring chamber, means for throwin such checkivalve out of vservice at will, caving the pipe open at that point, means for alternately establishing a condition of suction in-,said measuring chamber and venting said chamber to the air, and means rendered4 ineffective by the resence of liquid in the storage tank' for interruptingsuctionthrou h said storage tank.

Inv testimony w ereof I- have hereunto set 'I GEORGE WMACKENZIE. f

en .A

ning -to said measuring 

